Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-26

WHEREAS. The National Educational Assoeia-
tiol is composed of the leading educators of
the United States, and their presence on this
coast in tAeir annual meeting would tend 10
advance our educational, commercial and other
interests; therefore, he it
Resolved, BY the Senate, the Assembly con-
curing, that the Legislature now IN session,
hereby extends to SAID association an invitation
TO hold its annual meeting for the year 1855 in
California
Resolred That should some city in this State
be selected as the place for holding said meet
ing the State Printer is hereby authorizs and
directed to print the programme of the meeting,
circulars Of information and such other mat
tiers as may be deemed necessary by the state
Board OF Education 10 the success of the pro-
posed meeting, and the educational interests
of the State in that connection provided that
$1,000.
Resoircd. That a copy hereof be forwarded
TO the President OF the National Teachers Asso-
citation.
Senate bills 3l2, 3i9, 81. $40, SO and A. B. 119
were read the first time.
THIRD READING.
Senate bill No. 239, in relation to the power
of Boards of Education, passed-ayes 81, noes
none; $. B. No. 81, defining grand larceny,
passed-ayes 30, noes l; S. b. No. rs, relating to
the disqualification of Judges, passed-ayes 33,
noes .: s. b. No. a. relating to the inspection of
steam boilers, passed-ayes % noes 10.
BILLS PASSED.
At the evening session the following bills were
passed
S. b. 222; A. B. II, to provide for the organiza-
ton and government of irrigation districts, and
10 provide for the organization and distribution
of waters thereby for irrigation purposes; S.
173. relating to the sale of mortgaged premises
by a commissioner; S B. 12l, relating to waiver
of trial by jury; A. b. al, relating to chattel
mortgages; S. b. %, relating TO the removal of
criminal actions before trial. A. b. 90, relating
to the preservation of fish in the navisGble
waters OF the State. Payment of costs of trial
OF violations of law. s. B: 26a, relating to
fees and salaries in counties OF the 10Th class; 3
B. 49, relative TO the registry of births, deaths
and marriages. s. B. 30i, for the purchase OF GER
tain roads in Yosemite valley.
THE DEBRIs-DAM BILL-
The Senate next took up for second reading
Senate Bill No. 81, to provide for the impound-
ing of mining debris.
SPEC OF SENATOR CHANDLER.
Senator Chandler, of sutter and Yuba, said:
Mr.. President: 1t is an open secret that J. for
one am opposed to this bill, which is not new
one before the Legislature. Tnis bill, or one so
similar that the two could hardly be told apart,
was Introduced two years ago and defeated by a
vote of &c to II. And knowing, as do, that
there are 200 600 people living i'll this valley who
are opposed to this bill-and to dams in the
mountain streams, which are sure to give way
in the course of time-I desire t9 enter my sol
elnn protest against any measure that seeks TO
legaliZe the construction of such dams. These
people do not desire. after ten long years of lit
CATION, aud with the decisions of Courts in Their
having this Legislature legaliZe the cOnstrUc-
tion Of these dams and allow hydraulic mining
to go on. ConSruct the dams proposed and the
debris viii, sooner or later. come down ana
oyerwhelm us. These mpuntan streams have
q fall of from ten to one hundred feet to the
mile, while the fall OF the sacramento Is but
six inches TO the mile, and of the Feather one
foot to the mile. We do not believe dams can
be built in the mountain canyons to stand any
time while these streams are choked up to from
100 to 80 feet in depth with debris and stones
undergoing
ing process, and in the course of time they viii
crumble into. dust and be washed down upon
us. Can we build dams 100 feet high and ex-
pect them 10 withstand the terrible force OF
these mountain torrents with millions OF tons
Of rock and earth piled up behind them? No
sane man who is familiar with the nature OF
these mountain streams, which often rise in
one night believes the waters and sands can be
kept back. | have seen 400 acres of the best
aluyial lands in the valley covered several in
ches deep i'll slickenS- the matter that comes
down in suspension. No engineer has claimed
that more than 20 per cent. of this matter can
be held back by dams, and the so per cent that
would flow over is enough to ruin agricultural
lands and complete the filling of the river
channels. Suppose the dams should stand, this
80 per cent. of debris would continue to come
down upon US, while in the course OF time the
temporarily imprisoned soneS and sands would
follow, like an avalanche. The people OF the
valley should not be compelled to stand under
this danger. | have witnessed the destrue-
ton of 100000 acres of the finest val
ley land by this deb is. and eight years ago
the engineers reported that iI.009 acres had
been totally destroyed above the American
river. And not only there. but along the Sacra-
mento great portions of the land have been dc
stroyed by the elevation OF the river bed, the
lands being ruined by sipage, although escap-
ing deposits of debris We of the agricultural
districts do not relish the idea, after thiryfiyc
years residence in the valley, of having our
homes-beautiiied as they have been, and where
our children have been born-to have our lands
destroyed, and be LETT nothing to transmit To
our children. Sooner or later-and none know
this better than Senator Walrath-the daus it
is proposed 10 build would break and their
waters and debris delugc the valleys. Look at
the water of the Sacramento and you will see
what is carried i'll suspension. And during the
last year the water has been clearer than or the
mast fifteen wears, by reason Of our people hav-
ing eXpendrd thousands of dollars in litigation
and in enjoining the hydraulic mines. And,
Notwithstanding these lnIunctlons, the hydrau-
lie mines do manage 10 run secretly al night
and il violation OF the Courts. When we are
asked to consent TO live under these l59-foOt
dams we p otest-we have no deSise 90 risk our
lives and property TO such a nenaee. Now
these proposed dams would not even be good
thing for the hydraulic miners themselves for
aier tea years of litigation our people will not
submit 10 the menace and prolonged litigation
must enslie. the present law IS sufficient pro
lection To the miners. They are now eDpow-
cred 10 carry on their business so
long as they do not injure the prop
e-tv of others The present intent is
10 iecalize hydr 4ulic mining, and While we were
STRUGGLING 70 protect ourselves We would
lie riiIucd At IL confertnee of engineers on the
subject OF these dams, such men rs Colonel
Nendell and State Engineer Hall were of the
oninion that stone dams could be built that
wt1uld be permanent. But when they went and
exsmined these mountain canyons they saw
that something else must be done. Com mis-
sioners were appointed 10 take charge of the
matter and the people taxed II carry their ans
into execution. Among these commissioners
,yoe Niles Searls a representative of the miners.
Thase Commissioners sent for the celebrated
engineer, Captain Eads, who also. on examin-
;nT the ground, said these stone dams could not
h.. built and advised that dams be buit lover
town near the valley | saw the work that
was done on the brush dams, and thought they
Tvonld stand But didn't know As much about
II ae a sixtecn-year-old boy who lived ON Beay
rty.er FIe looked on ut the work, and asked if
thev expected those brush dams TO stand On
beiilg answered in the affirmative he said ne
didf7t know much about engineering bat he
5id knew that when old Bar cum down IL
boorlin' those dams would 80 out.
Continuing Mr.. Chandler said his desk was
filed with protests and petitions nom citizens
and boards of Supervisors aSain,t the passage |
al the bill. Lands along the Bear. Nuba and !
Feather rivers went begging tet0re the inlunc |
fiolis were procured sgaiustthe hydraulic mines |
,,,r,ly 10 the enormous taxes required in order
no Eeep up the leyces and protect the land as |
far AS possible from ruin. But sfterthe hydraulic
mines were enjoined by the Courts the value |
~ these lands was red9nbied Pass this bill and |
70 Sl,au he relegated back to our former |
condition How would the nstors from the |
ag.len spots of the southern counties ike 70 see
Their prange groves and magnolia avenues |
roysre,i several ieer deep with slickens, has
beea the case with us of thsSacramenfo valley |
IIov would they like to SEE monitors playing |
,,non mountain banks 500 feet in hight and /
washing down the sand and earth upon their (
homes aud lands? Many of the hydraulic |
mines do not pay; but they want 10 go on and /
Eeer, washing down the mountains in the hope
of siriking something. L. L. Robinson, who /
,,ovT owns hydraulic mines IN the mountains. /
,in,sslf had some bitter experience with slick
US fayr years ago He found il necessary to
a,,ioi, q coal mining company at Mount Diablo !
,rIieh had sent its debris down upon his farm
inc Lands. Now he waits the law 10 back him
ip III doing fle SAME e!l' 90 a loig-suf'efinf peo-